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Ask HN: Who Wants to Be Fired?

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Re: Ask HN: Who Wants to Be Fired?

#251

Post by voidhorse »

throwaway7137 wrote: post #42

Getting told by my director that the product manager thought it was rude when I answered a question by sending them a link to the answer in the relevant documentation. I guess this is why nothing else at this company is documented, because why write things down when you can waste multiple people's time repeating things.

Eh, all you would have had to do is something like “I think this is it! . Let me know if you need anythinng else”

takes one more second to add a little fluff to humanize your message.

Re: Ask HN: Who Wants to Be Fired?

#252

Post by hacknat »

bloopernova wrote: post #218
rjplatte wrote: post #100

I'm the sole developer working on my current project, which is overhauling a massive DOS era application, as well as overhauling an early 2000s era CRM/business management tool, that almost all of our work happens through. Did I mention that the DOS application is a HIPAA billing application that must meet all HIPAA guidelines as well as write EDI X12 billing files? I'm very junior, been coding for ~5 years, 3 profes…

You do know that HIPAA violations can land you in jail, right? Run. Don't walk. Vacate immediately. Leave. I'm finding myself hoping that this is a fake, because I wouldn't wish this situation on anyone at all.

You won’t go to jail if you do nothing wrong, but legal fees. Ugh, yeah, you’ll be in court as a witness and possibly defendant if you don’t leave ASAP.

Re: Ask HN: Who Wants to Be Fired?

#253

Post by derrick_jensen »

toop43 wrote: post #69
throwaway29488 wrote: post #2

Not with the job in particular, just want to take a break from tech especially from being a programmer. Tired of staring at a screen for 80% of my awake time and constant puzzle solving. Sick of people in this industry making you feel you're not smart enough, that you're not enough no matter how many times you prove yourself in past work.

> Sick of people in this industry making you feel you're not smart enough, that you're not enough no matter how many times you prove yourself in past work. Dealing with this in the heavy right now. I've built a lot in my 10 years as a programmer. Infinitely, and automatically scaled application server based on load. Hasn't crashed or had a single downtime ever since release. I've built mobile applications 100% myself…

I switched to Math from CS at my university specifically because of this. Although the CS field does emphasize a lot of theory, having a more general theoretical background greatly helps with picking up new engineering fields as a hobby.

IMHO the main reason people feel stupid about algorithms and the like is the progress isn't as clear and as linear. I wasn't good starting out. Coursera is great, and probably the most flexible and least frustrating way to expand your skill set.

Re: Ask HN: Who Wants to Be Fired?

#254

Post by oneepic »

theanine wrote: post #85

I wrote about my experience at my current job a few weeks ago [1]. I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all your support. I recently got an offer for the field I've always wanted to be in, with around a $25k pay raise too. It's such a huge weight off my shoulders to finally see a way out and I feel so much better, basic things like my appetite are back and I don't dread waking up. I already have so much more f…

Congrats! I moved to Seattle recently. The Space Needle and the Museum of Pop Culture (mostly if you're into rock and roll) are good tourist attractions. Personally I love the views the most (we have the Cascades and a few mountains/"active" volcanoes here, plus the lake/the ocean close by). A few nice parks in the area to check out too.

Re: Ask HN: Who Wants to Be Fired?

#255

Post by tayo42 »

Waterluvian wrote: post #72

I don't want to be fired. I absolutely love my job and the people I work with. But I can just smell that we are about to hit a sticking point with how I don't do on call (it was never mentioned in the interviews or part of my contract) and I don't respond to work after 5pm. If it does come to that sticking point I'm trying to figure out how to be the most assertive and diplomatic. I.e. How do I convey that I badly wa…

On call is shitty and I wish it wasn't accepted they way it is.

Either hire people to work around the globe, or people that want to hire in shifts or accept that your product isn't going to be on 24 hours a day.

Re: Ask HN: Who Wants to Be Fired?

#256

Post by sithlord »

sjg007 wrote: post #219

Why would you want to get fired at the limits? Why not talk to your managers or you know resign.. I mean if you get fired you don't get unemployment benefits.. I think you mean you'd rather as to be laid off. Getting fired in the best case means taking a moral position against the company that is righteous... Does being laid off mean you were lazy?

this is incorrect, at least in the US. If you get fired, you do get unemployment benefits. The only way to not get unemployment benefits when being fired is for-cause. Ie stealing, or something similiar

Re: Ask HN: Who Wants to Be Fired?

#257

Post by athriren »

sjg007 wrote: post #219

Why would you want to get fired at the limits? Why not talk to your managers or you know resign.. I mean if you get fired you don't get unemployment benefits.. I think you mean you'd rather as to be laid off. Getting fired in the best case means taking a moral position against the company that is righteous... Does being laid off mean you were lazy?

In California, so long as you do not get fired for misconduct you are (generally) eligible to collect unemployment benefits whether you are fired or laid off. The definition of misconduct in California law is actually quite narrow—there are four standards and you must meet all of them in order to be ineligible for unemployment.

Obviously this is only one state in a large country in an even bigger world, so this may not be applicable to where you are. But wanted to clarify for any SF/LA/other CA city readers that the legal distinction for unemployment is not being laid off vs being fired, but losing your job for misconduct vs losing your job for some other reason.

Re: Ask HN: Who Wants to Be Fired?

#258

Post by xenihn »

bryanmgreen wrote: post #171

Getting fired from a bad job is like having the best sex of your life but with the worst human being ever. Feels amazing for a brief moment but you need a very long shower and a doctor's appointment after. Then confusion and anxiety sets in because you're afraid you'll never have that high again and some part of you wants you to go right back for that perverse rush even though your smart brain says "HELL NO". You see…

Soo it's like dating a borderline?

Re: Ask HN: Who Wants to Be Fired?

#259

Post by voidhorse »

throwaway7137 wrote: post #167
whynaut wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not the rudest but it is basically saying RTFM. I deal with it like, here's the info you're looking for, but in the future you can read here instead of having to wait on me :) The idea being to present it as a benefit for them and not an unburdening for you.

Tried that approach and got told I was condescending.

Thats cause it is. its snarky. solving someones problem and telling them they could be doing something better are two different things. its often offensive to mix the two. it also shows an incredible lack of empathy—sometimes someone is asking you something because theyre swamped and you seemed helpful, if you respond like that theyll go from thinking youre helpful to thinking you’re a know it all jerk.

heres a better way to communicate the same thing without being snarky:

“here it is! its a pretty good resource, the docs are fairly extensive, theyve saved me a couple times in the past” that gives the person the hint without simultenousely saying “i think you’re a dope for not knowingg how to look up this doc” In fact the “next time you can just :)” pattern in general is nearly always snarky—the smily face is clearly not genuine and is belittling.

Re: Ask HN: Who Wants to Be Fired?

#260

Post by BalinKing »

iamsb wrote: post #244
rjplatte wrote: post #100

I'm the sole developer working on my current project, which is overhauling a massive DOS era application, as well as overhauling an early 2000s era CRM/business management tool, that almost all of our work happens through. Did I mention that the DOS application is a HIPAA billing application that must meet all HIPAA guidelines as well as write EDI X12 billing files? I'm very junior, been coding for ~5 years, 3 profes…

You are 18 and been working professionally for 3 years. Well done. All said and done this is what matters. Real life experience over university education.

One thing for GP to consider: I did the exact same thing (worked for three years in software development), but now I’m back at school in college. This obviously depends on if you think school is worth it (I did), but I wouldn’t be surprised if my work experience before college helped me stand out in the application process. Either way, good luck!
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